1. The History
RAF Newton, 7 miles east of Nottingham, was used briefly as a bomber base and then as a flying training school during World War II. It was built in 1939, on the site of a pre-war civil airfield. A year later No 1 Group was assigned to the newly constructed base in June 1940. A month later No. 103 Squadron moved from RAF Honington with their Fairey Battles before changing to the Vickers Wellington in October 1940. Newton became a training base, and between July 1941 and December 1946 No. 16 (Polish) Service Flying Training School provided basic and advanced training for Polish airmen serving with the RAF.
The station became the headquarters of No 12 Group, Fighter Command from 1946 until 1958, when Technical Training Command took over the station for electronic fitters courses. Later the station became the home to both the RAF School of Education when they moved up from RAF Upwood in 1972 and then the RAF Police Training School who moved from RAF Debden in 1974. The station badge featured the Polish Eagle holding a flaming torch along with the motto "Docemus et Discimus" (We teach and we learn). The station also become the home of the newly formed Nottingham University College Air Squadron in 1941, providing newly trained pilots for the RAF until they left in November 1967.
Today the site is a private industrial estate and the buildings are being converted into offices and storage space. The old control tower has been renovated into offices and the grass airfield has been returned to agriculture use. Nottinghamshire Police have used parts of the site for public order, method of entry and police dog training. Also, the abandoned houses on the base were used as film sets for the film "This is England". In terms of future developments, proposals to build a large number of homes on-site with at least 550 new homes earmarked for the former base site were passed.
2. The Explore
Remember this being easy access and a relaxed mooch. Some of the buildings were sealed tight while many others (especially the former accommodation blocks) were relatively easy to access. Spent a good hour or so wandering around. Ironically as I was heading off the site security pulled up in their car and asked me what I was doing. When I replied "Just taking some pictures" they replied that it was private, and photography was not allowed. Hence, I made my apologies and left in full knowledge that I had finished anyway! Sadly, since I went in 2017, everything has now been demo’ed and the land cleared. This is all that is now left:
3. The Pictures
by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0489 by HughieDW, on Flickr
i
RAF Newton, 7 miles east of Nottingham, was used briefly as a bomber base and then as a flying training school during World War II. It was built in 1939, on the site of a pre-war civil airfield. A year later No 1 Group was assigned to the newly constructed base in June 1940. A month later No. 103 Squadron moved from RAF Honington with their Fairey Battles before changing to the Vickers Wellington in October 1940. Newton became a training base, and between July 1941 and December 1946 No. 16 (Polish) Service Flying Training School provided basic and advanced training for Polish airmen serving with the RAF.
The station became the headquarters of No 12 Group, Fighter Command from 1946 until 1958, when Technical Training Command took over the station for electronic fitters courses. Later the station became the home to both the RAF School of Education when they moved up from RAF Upwood in 1972 and then the RAF Police Training School who moved from RAF Debden in 1974. The station badge featured the Polish Eagle holding a flaming torch along with the motto "Docemus et Discimus" (We teach and we learn). The station also become the home of the newly formed Nottingham University College Air Squadron in 1941, providing newly trained pilots for the RAF until they left in November 1967.
Today the site is a private industrial estate and the buildings are being converted into offices and storage space. The old control tower has been renovated into offices and the grass airfield has been returned to agriculture use. Nottinghamshire Police have used parts of the site for public order, method of entry and police dog training. Also, the abandoned houses on the base were used as film sets for the film "This is England". In terms of future developments, proposals to build a large number of homes on-site with at least 550 new homes earmarked for the former base site were passed.
2. The Explore
Remember this being easy access and a relaxed mooch. Some of the buildings were sealed tight while many others (especially the former accommodation blocks) were relatively easy to access. Spent a good hour or so wandering around. Ironically as I was heading off the site security pulled up in their car and asked me what I was doing. When I replied "Just taking some pictures" they replied that it was private, and photography was not allowed. Hence, I made my apologies and left in full knowledge that I had finished anyway! Sadly, since I went in 2017, everything has now been demo’ed and the land cleared. This is all that is now left:
3. The Pictures
by HughieDW, on Flickr
i
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